Card cover with fiber conveying air flow channel

ABSTRACT

A card cover less carding surfaces, comprising an air-flow channel of regular cross-section disposed transverse the carding surface of a card cylinder, axially parallel and radially open thereto. The channel of the card cover when supplied with a stream of air from an external air-flow inducing means acts to move fiber in a helical path across and around on operating card cylinder.

United States Patent [151 3,678,537 Rhodes et al. [4511 July 25, 1972 [54] CARD COVER WITH FIBER [56] References Cited CONVEYING AIR FLOW H UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventors: Philip L. Rhodes, Chalmette; Roger S. I

Brown, New Orleans, both of La. 950'757 3/1910 19/90 731 Assignee: The United States of America as Primary orsey Newton represented by the Secretary of Agricul. Attorney-R. Hoffman and W. Bier I 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 1970 A card cover less carding surfaces, comprising an air-flow [21] Appl. No.: 50,218 channel of regular cross-section disposed transverse the carding surface of a card cylinder, axially parallel and radially 19/98 open thereto. The channel of the card cover when supplied 5 Cl 2 with a stream of air from an external air-flow inducing means acts to move fiber in a helical path across and around on Fie do are operating card cylinder.

2 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENIEUJULZMHIZ 3 7 537 PHILIP LRHODES ROGER S. BROWN ATTORNEY INVENTORS CARD COVER WITH FIBER CONVEYING AIR FLOW CHANNEL A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, throughout the world for all purposes of the United States Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to a mechanism for separating partially opened fibrous material into individual fibers. Specifically, our invention comprises an apparatus for the continuous separation of individual fibers from a continuous supply of partially opened fibrous material.

The conventional carding machine used for the purpose of separating partially opened fibrous material into individual fibers comprises a cylinder of substantial diameter, for example, approximately four feet, which has a multiplicity of teeth projecting from its surface. The fiber is fed onto this cylinder and, as it revolves, the teeth pull the material against a toothed surface in close proximity to the cylinder. The large circum ferential surface area of the cylinder is necessary to obtain complete separation of all the fibers against the toothed surface in proximity to it. Following this treatment, it is a practice to disengage the carded fibers from the teeth of the cylinder by a doffer roll approximately two to three feet in diameter. The doffer roll also has teeth on its periphery which are in close proximity to the teeth of the carding cylinder so as to lift the fibers from the teeth of the carding cylinder. A vibrating comb or toothed roll is used in turn, to separate the fibers from the teeth of the doffer.

The apparatus which is the subject of our invention comprises a small cylinder clothed with a fiber carrying material and is partially enclosed with a close fitting specially surfaced cover and partially enclosed with a specially contoured cover under which a suitable axial air flow in induced. Tufts of fiber enter at one end by means of the induced air flow and follow a helical path around the cylinder by reason of the induced air flow and emerge from the discharge end as individual fibers within the air flow. The cylinder teeth pull the fibrous material against the surface of the specially surfaced close fitting cover. The necessary carding area for complete separation of the fibers is provided by the fibers following a helical path around the cylinder. Our invention is therefore a substantially smaller machine capable of accomplishing the action of a standard carding machine.

More specifically, our invention consists of a card cover, lessthe carding surfaces; which comprises means that define the walls of an air-flow channel of regular cross-section. This air-flow channel is disposed axially across the curvilinear surface of a card cylinder, parallel thereto and spaced therefrom, and, in operating location, is open radially adjacent the surface of the associated card cylinder. The air-flow channel is open at both axial ends; at least one open axial end being adapted for attaching an external air-flow inducing means whereby a controlled flow of air through the air-flow channel moves fiber, in the process of being carded, across and around the curvilinear surface of the rotating card cylinder in a helical ath.

P The preferred embodiment of the apparatus is described in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1, is a pictorial view showing the essential features of the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken on plane 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, 1 is a base which carries and positions the components of the machine: the carding component, the means for driving the cylinder of the carding component and all of the associated supporting structures such as 2 the auxiliary base which supports the carding cylinder covers and frames 3 and 4 which support the carding cylinder shaft and bearings. Carding cylinder is enclosed by a close fitting cover 11 and a specially contoured cover 12 which provides space for an axial air flow induced by any conventional means not shown and connected at 17. A suction fan at this location is a convenient means for inducing air flow. The fiber tufts enter, by means of the induced air flow, through a supply duct 13 which is connected to the opening provided by cover 12. Cover 12 can be shaped as shown in FIG. 2 or any other desired shape which provides an axial channel for an induced air flow. The circumambient area enclosed by cover 12 may be increased or decreased depending on the degree of carding required. It is feasible, for example, to have the cover which provides the axial channel for induced air flow encompass all the surface of the carding cylinder except for those portions involved with carding. It will be recognized however that whatever cover dimension is chosen, channel size and air flow must be carefully balanced so that uniform movement of fiber is attained. The path of fiber movement around and across the card cylinder is substantially helical. Cylinder I0 is clothed with any type toothed wire I4 which entraps the fiber tufts conveyed into area enclosed by cover 12 by the air stream. The cylinder may be any size and length but is preferably 2 inches to l2 inches in diameter and 2 inches to 12 inches long. Cylinder 10 is supported by bearings I00 and 101 and can be driven by any conventional means, such as motor 102 through driving pulley 104 connected to shaft 103, belt 105, driven pulley 106, connected to shaft 107.

The leading face 15 of wire teeth 14 can be either radial or inclined in the direction of rotation of cylinder I0, and can be circumferentially or spirally wound vertically or inclined in either direction. The surface 16 of cover 11 that encloses cylinder 10 may be smooth, rough, granular, or covered or surfaced with any material which will offer resistance to the fiber tufts being carried by the teeth of toothed wire 14. We prefer to use a granular surface having a fine grit. The surface speed of cylinder 10 is sufficiently high to impart a centrifugal force to the fiber tufts so as to project said fibers away from the surface of cylinder 10 except while under cover 11. The setting of toothed wire 14 to surface 16 is sufficiently close, preferably 0.005 inches, to facilitate carding of the fiber tufts. The centrifugal force imparted to the fiber, forces the fiber to be thrown from surface of toothed wire in the area enclosed by cover 12, but the forward momentum imparted to the fiber by the rotation of cylinder 10, and the boundary layer of air of cylinder I0 causes the toothed wire 14 to re-engage the fiber and carry it from the area enclosed by cover 12 and past the surface 16 of close fitting cover I] where the fiber again receives the carding action. However, due to the induced axial air flow within the area enclosed by cover 12, the fiber is moved axially along the length of cylinder 10 each cycle, a distance that is determined by the configuration of cover 12 and the velocity of the induced air flow. Also individual fibers projected from cylinder 10 have less rotational momentum than tufts, and are therefore influenced by the axial air flow to a greater degree than the tufts. SUch action causes the individual fibers to traverse the length of cylinder 10 in fewer cycles thus reducing fiber damage.

An induced air flow moves fiber from supply duct 13 to exit or discharge duct 17 while cylinder 10 deflects the fiber into a helical path around the cylinder. With the above-mentioned parameters only completely individualized fibers will exit the system. As a result we have devised a compact carding machine which is capable of producing a uniform supply of in dividualiaed fiber from unopened tufts.

IT will be obvious to those skilled in the art of carding fibers that one or more worker rolls surfaced with any material that will offer resistance to the fiber tufts being carried by the teeth of toothed wire 14 on cylinder 10 can be mounted parallel to and in close proximity to the periphery of carding cylinder 10, the worker rolls adapted to operate either in addition to or in place of carding surface 16 of cover 11. Moreover, fibers in the form of a very narrow lap could be introduced into the system on the periphery of a worker roll at the end of the worker roll adjacent supply duct 13.

Covers (not shown) on the axial ends of the carding component can be installed to improve the efficiency of the induced air flow.

We claim:

I. Carding apparatus comprising:

a. support means;

b. a rotatable, curvilinear-surfaced carding cylinder mounted on said support means;

0. means for rotating said carding cylinder;

d. card cover means comprising a coaxial, tightly-fitting cover member around said carding cylinder, said cover member having an inner cylindrical carding surface adjacent the curvilinear surface of the carding cylinder, said cover member extending circumferentially around the carding cylinder to cover a major portion of the periphery thereof, leaving a minor axial portion of uniform w|dth of carding cylinder surface uncovered; and

e. an axially-disposed air-flow member of regular cross-section secured to the card cover member extending over and covering the uncovered portion of the carding cylinder, parallel thereto and spaced therefrom, said airflow member forming a channel communicating with the curvilinear surface of the carding cylinder, said channel member being radially open at each axial end adjacent the surface of the carding cylinder, one of said open ends constituting an inlet for a current of air carrying fibers to be carded, the other of said open ends constituting an exit for said air current carrying carded fibers, one of said ends being adapted to be connected to external air-flow inducing means whereby the current of air through the channel moves fibers entrained in said current across the curvilinear surface of the carding cylinder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tight-fitting cover member is provided with an abrasive surfaccadjacent the surface of the carding cylinder. 

1. Carding apparatus comprising: a. support means; b. a rotatable, curvilinear-surfaced carding cylinder mounted on said support means; c. means for rotating said carding cylinder; d. card cover means comprising a coaxial, tightly-fitting cover member around said carding cylinder, said cover member having an inner cylindrical carding surface adjacent the curvilinear surface of the carding cylinder, said cover member extending circumferentially around the carding cylinder to cover a major portion of the periphery thereof, leaving a minor axial portion of uniform width of carding cylinder surface uncovered; and e. an axially-disposed air-flow member of regular cross-section secured to the card cover member extending over and covering the uncovered portion of the carding cylinder, parallel thereto and spaced therefrom, said air-flow member forming a channel communicating with the curvilinear surface of the carding cylinder, said channel member being radially open at each axial end adjacent the surface of the carding cylinder, one of said open ends constituting an inlet for a current of air carrying fibers to be carded, the other of said open ends constituting an exit for said air current carrying carded fibers, one of said ends being adapted to be connected to external air-flow inducing means whereby the current of air through the channel moves fibers entrained in said current across the curvilinear surface of the carding cylinder.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tight-fitting cover member is provided with an abrasive surface adjacent the surface of the carding cylinder. 